How do powerheads work?
- Thread starter haywood2
- Start date
You probably won't want to put the powerhead too close to the sand, or you're going to get a serious sand storm. Initially, especially if you're using really fine sand, you'll probably want to keep your powerheads towards the top of the tank and not pointed down at all. After awhile, your sand will start to bind together, and it won't be as much of an issue. You do want some flow along the bottom of your tank for just the reason you stated, though. Generally, the best thing to do is keep the powerheads towards the top of the tank, perhaps pointed slightly down, and use at least two powerheads with their streams crossing each other. This is going to disperse the flow and make it more random. If you're planning on doing corals, they'll love you for it.
Oh, and if your powerheads come with suction cups, don't use them. They're going to lose their suction before long, and you're going to have a rogue powerhead spinning around your tank causing all sorts of havoc.
Oh, and if your powerheads come with suction cups, don't use them. They're going to lose their suction before long, and you're going to have a rogue powerhead spinning around your tank causing all sorts of havoc.
ionredline0260
New member
Re: How do powerheads work?
Do not question the magic of the glorious POWER HEAD. Last person that questioned how they work was cured with hair algea the rest of his life!
Do not question the magic of the glorious POWER HEAD. Last person that questioned how they work was cured with hair algea the rest of his life!
Disturbing the surface of the water is obviously important, but just as important is water movement in the rest of the tank. For the fish, it's important to give them some exercise swimming against the current, especially in such a confined area. My wrasse actually loves to point his nose at the powerhead from time to time and do the hamster in the exercise wheel thing. Second, it's very important for corals. It serves two functions (that I can think of). First, it brings them their food. Since they can't move, the plankton and other nutrients in the water have to move to them. Second, it keeps detritus, algae and other undesirables from settling on them and causing irritation and stress. Of course, that last goes for anything non moving in the tank, just as haywood2 alluded to in his very first post. Keep that detritus moving, and it will eventually get sucked up by the skimmer or some other filter and not provide an all you can eat buffet to algae.
